Rozalyn Strong Named First Black Leader of Local Georgia Republican Group

Rozalyn Strong Named First Black Leader of Local Georgia Republican Group

Georgia GOP taps first Black leader of local party group. Rozalyn Strong says more Blacks should join the party.

Published May 10, 2011

Rozalyn Strong was nominated by Rev. Wayne Perryman to become the co-chair of the Eastside Republican Club. (Photo: Chad Coleman/Bellevue Reporter)

Rozalyn Strong, a school teacher in Redmond, Georgia, has been tapped to head the Eastside Republican Party. She will be the first African-American to serve in that role and will share duties as co-president.

“I believe that Blacks need to be involved in both parties, and that’s where we falter a bit,” she told the Bellevue Reporter.

Strong, whose mother was a prominent Georgia Republican and a publically elected official, told the publication that the Republican Party has not done a good enough job of reaching out to Blacks and engaging them in the party, which is necessary to win their confidence.

“There’s been a lack of education for what the Republican Party has done in the Black community,” Strong said.

She also said that her race is not an issue but she plans to encourage more African-Americans to join the GOP.

“Once you’re in the mix and all have the same ideas you forget about color,” Strong said.